Air purifier ob humidifier and inhaler



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. BAUER AIR PURIFIER OR HUMIDIFIER AND INHALER FiledMarch 20 1924 March 23 1926.

INV TOR ATTORNEYS,

March 23 1926; 1,577,604

. A. BAUER AIR PURIFIER 0R HUMIDIF'IER AND INHALER Filed March 20 1924 2,.S heets-Sheet 2 lNVgNTOR ATTORNEYS.

iatcnted Mar.

ADOLPLEI BAUER, 0F NEXVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO RIUEIARD G. JENKINSON,

DOING- BUSINESS AS 18:. C. JENKIIISON :5: 00., OF NEYVARK,

NEW

AIR PURIFIER GH'HUMLEDIFIEB AND INHALER.

Application filed. March 20. 1924.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Anonrii liiusa, a citizen of the Republic of xei'uiany, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air Purifiers or Humidifiers and inhalers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to air puriliers or humidifiers and inhalers of the type in which a purifying, pcrfumin or humidifying substance or a medican'ient is vaporized by contact with a circulating fluid such as air or steam. The invention is particularly intended for use in sick rooms for purifying or perfuming the air, or for inedicating the air or for use as an inhaler for relief of asthma, colds, etc.

The primary object ofthe invention is to provide a device of the character described embodying novel and improved features of construction so as to be adapted to cooperate with either the vent valve of a steam heated radiator to utilize the steam therefrom for vaporizing the purifying, medicating, etc. substance or with a special boiler for generating steam for vaporizing said substance, accordingly as steam is available in the radiator or as the user may desire.

Anotherobject is to provide a device of the general character described comprising a casing to receive a purifying or medicating, etc. substance and constructed to permit flow of a fluid therethrough into c011- tact with said substance to vaporize the latter, said casing being adapted tov be 0011- nected to a radiator vent valve to; receive steam therefrom, and means carried'by said casing to regulate the opening and closing of said valve to vary the flow of steam.

A further objectis to provide such a device comprising a casing having a steam chamber provided with an opening in the top thereof, and a vaporizer casing to receive a purifying or medicating, etc. substance adapted to reinovably lit into said opening and formed with a passage topermit steam to flow from said chamber through said cas-v ing into contact with said substance to vaporize the same and discharge the vapor into the atmosphere v Other obje is are to provide a combination with radiator vent valve, of a steals shamber casing secured to the of: vent Serial No. 700,438.

provided with means to regulate the open:

ing and closing of said vent valve; to pro vide a novel and in'iproved vaporizer casing, and to obtain other results and advantages as may be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference characters dcsi nate corresponding and like parts.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through a device constructed in accordance with my invention including a vaporizer, a, steam chamber for generating steam for the vaporizer and a heating device for generating steamin the steam chamber; I

Figure 2 is a top shown in Figure 1-; v

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the vaporizer taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4: is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through another form of the invention in which the vaporizer casing shown in Figure l isused on a steam radiator' vent valve Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4: showing a modified form of vaporizer and connection thereof to a radiator vent valve;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 6+6 of Figure 5, and s Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken on the line of Figure 5. i

plan view of the device In the specific embodimentof the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the reference character 1 designates a vaporizer casing having one end thereof threaded as at? and formed with a transverse partition or diaphragm 3 between the ends thereof, both ends of said casing being open. A plug 4 is arranged coaXially in the diaphragm 3 and is provided with a pluthreaded end 2 of the casing is provided with an extensidn 6 for a purpose hereinafter dcscribed. The other end of the plug is provided with a recess 7 forming a bearing for an agitating and mixing fan 8 which may be of any suitable construction. In the present instance said fan comprises a hub 9 having an axial stub shaft 10 thcrethrough one end of which is adapted to fit within the opening 7 of the plug l while the other end projects from the opposite side of the fan. Two discs 11 and 12 of suitable absorbent material, such as asbestos, are arranged within the casing 1, )referably one at each side of the diaphragm 3, said discs being adapted to be saturated with a suitable purifying, medicating, etc. substance.

The vaporizer above described is intended to be used with a plurality of types of steam chambers for supplying steam for vaporizing the purifying, medicating, etc. substance. In Figure 1 of the drawings the vaporizer is shown as used in connection with a steam boiler 13 having av steam chamber 1 1 in one end. thereof, the top wall of which is provided with a threaded opening 15 to receive the threaded end 2 of the casing 1. The other end of the steam boiler 13 is adapted to be set upon a suitable heater casing 16 to receive a heater of any known type such as the alcohol burner 17 The boiler 13 is adapted to contain water from which is generated steam by the heater 17 for vaporizing the purifying, etc. substance in the vaporizer 1.

In the operation of this form of the invention, the steam generated in the steam chamber 14 passes upwardly into the casing 1 and into contact with the disc 12, thence through the passages 5 of the plug 4 into the other end of the casing and into contact with the disc 11. The purifying, etc. substance carried by said discs is thus vaporized by the steam and passes outwardly through the upper end of the casing 1. The mixing fan 8 being arranged abovethe passages 5 is driven by the jets of vapor therefrom so as to thoroughly agitate the vapors and distribute them into the atmosphere above the vaporizer. If desired,

to increase the strength of the vapors, an,

absorbent disc 18 may be arranged on the upper side of the fan 8 and held in position thereon by the end 10 of the shaft of the fan projecting through an opening 19 in the disc. It will be observed that this device is simple and inexpensive in construction and operation, can be easily carried from room to room as may be desired, and occupies a mini mum amount of space. Where it is desired to use the device as an inhaler, an inhaler tube 180 may be applied to the upper end of the casing 1 so as to direct the vapors for the purpose of inhalation.

,Preferably the steam boiler 13 is designed to be heated by different sources of heat so as to be adapted for use under various conditions. Thus, the boiler may be formed with a recess 130 to receive an electric heater where electricity is available, this being a much handier and simpler means of gencrating steam than the heater 17. It. will also be understood that the boiler 13 may be set upon a conventional stove or oil heater if such is preferable to the electric or alcohol heater above described.

In Figure 1 I have shown the vaporizer used in connection with the vent valve of a steam radiator. The vent valve may be generally of known construction including a casing 20 having a 'alve chamber therein and adapted to be connected to a radiator in the usual manner by means of the threaded nipple 21 which connnunicates with the valve chamber. The said chan'iber is formed with an. outlet opening 22 controlled by a. needle valve 23 actuated by any known mechanism to control the outlet 22. The valve casing is exteriorly threaded at: 25 to receive a correspondingly threaded end 26 of a fluid chamber casing 27 the other end of which is interiorly threaded at 28 to receive thethreaded end 2 of the casing 1. IVith this construction the air escaping from the radiator as the steam rises therein may be utilized for vaporizing the purifying, etc. substance, and after the vent valve 23 has automatically closed. the outlet 22 the steam from the radiator may be utilized by rotating the casing 1 in the casing 27 to bring the projection 6 of the plug 1- into engagement with the Valve 23 to hold the same in open position. The extent of the opening of the said valve 23 may be easily regulated by rotation of the casing 1 in the proper direction. The steam flows from the vent valve into the chamber 27 and from there into the casing 1 to vaporize the substance in the discs 11 and 12 exactly as above described.

The casing 21 may also be utilized as a \-'aporizer. For this purpose a passage 29) in the vent valve casing 20 may be provided to permit steam to flow from the vent valve directly into the steam chamber between the casing 27 and the casing of the vent valve. and a plurality of spacedly superposed rings 30 of absorbent material may be arranged in said chamber to receive a purifying, etc. substance which will be vaporized by contact of the steam with the said rings.

It will thus be seen that the vaporizer 1 may be utilized with a steam radiator when steam is available therein, or may be used in connection with a special steam generator. such as the boiler 13, when steam is not available in the radiator, or portability of the device is necessary. I

A. modified form of vaporizer casing is shown in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive and includes a casing or fluid chamber 31. having tlt) athreaded opening 32 in one end thereof to be secured. to a threaded projection 33 on the outlet end of a rad ator vent valve 31-. The said valve'inay be otherwise identical in construction with the valve 20, the outlet thereof being controlled by a needle valve 35. A vaporizer casing 36 has one end thereof threaded into the end of the casing Stopposite the opening 32, said end of the vaporizer raising being closed except for a plurality of transverse openings 37. A plug is secured axially in said end of the vaporizer casing and is provided at the end thereof projecting into the casing 31 with an extension 3 to engage the end of the vent valve 35. The end of the plug 38 within the vaporizer casing 36 is formed with an opening 410 to serve as a bearing for the shaft 41 of a mixing fan 42 which may be identical in construction with the fan 8 shown in Figure 1. An absorbent disc t3 of any suitable material, such as asbestos, is secured to the end of the vaporizer casing projecting into the main casing 31 and is formed with a plurality of transverse openings 44 corresponding in number to the openings 37 in the vaporizer casing. Another absorbcnt disc 45 may be arranged in the casing adjacent the opening 32. The outer end of the vaporizer casing is preferably closed by a removable cover t6 having its top perforated or formed of wire screen 47, and an absorbent disc 48 is preferably arranged within said cover.

hen the vent valve 35 is open and air is escaping therefrom, said air may be utilized for vaporizing the substance in the absorbing discs 43, t5 and 48. When it is desired to utilize steam from the radiator, the auxiliary casing 36 is rotated to move the extension 39 of the plug 38 into engagement with the valve 35 to hold the same in open position and permit the escape of steam from the vent valve into the main casing 31. The air or steam in the main casing 31 contacts with the discs 43 and 45 and passes therefrom through the openings 37 into the auxiliary casing and from there through the disc 48 and wire screen 47 into the atmosphere. The jets of air or steam from the openings 37 actuate themixing fan 42 in a manner similar to that in which the Jets from the passages 5 actuate the fan 8 in the construction shown in Figure 1.

It will be noted that each of the forms of the invention includes a fluid chamber connected to a source of vaporizing fluid, and a vaporizer casing connected to the fluid chamber whereby fluid may flow from the tluid chamber through the vaporizer easing into contact with the substance to be vaporized in the vaporizer casing.

It will be understood that the number, construction and arrangement of the absorb= ent discs may be varied, and. that any suitceive fluid from said main casin ablenmterial for receiving the pi'u'ifying', medicatmg, etc-substance may be utilized.

Furthermore, while I have shown the vapoiw izer casings as embodying certain details of construction, it will be understood that this is only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention andthat many modifications and changes may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself except as required by the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, what Iclaim is:

1. A 'aporizer comprising a main casing to be connected to a valved source of vaporizing fluid and having an oulct, and ava porizer casing containing a substance to be vaporized having an inlet to connect to said outlet of said main casing and an outlet whereby fluid may flow from said source through the main casing and the vaporizer casing to vaporize said substance, said vaporizer casing being adjustable upon said main casing to engage the valve of said source of vaporizingfluid to regulate the flow of fluid therefrom through said vapor-- izer casing.

2. A vaporizer comprising a main casing to be connected to a valved source of vaporizing fluid and having a screw threaded outlet, and a vaporizer casing containing a substance to be vaporized having one end screw threaded to adjustably fit into said screw threaded outlet of the main casing and formed with an inlet to re said vaporizer casing having a part to engage the valve of said source of fluid to regulate said valve upon screwing of the vaporizer easing into and out of said main casing, said vaporizer casing being also formed with an outlet whereby fluid may flow from said main casing through said vaporizer casing to vaporize said substance. 7

3. The combination with a radiator vent valve including a housing having an outlet opening and a vent valve for controlling said opening, of a vaporizer casing connected to said outlet opening of said housing of the vent valve and containing a substance to be vaporized and permitting the flow of fluid from said vent valve into contact with said substance, and means on said vaporizer casing for regulating the opening and closing" of said vent valve.

4. The combination with a radiator vent valve including a housing having an outletopening and a vent valve for controlling said opening, of a fluid chamber mounted on said housing of said vent valve over said outletopening to receive fluid therefrom, a

vaporizer casing connected to said fluid chamber and containing a substance to be va 'ioriy-ed and pern'littinc flow of fluid from said chamber into contact with said substance to vaporize the same, and means on said vaporizer casing for regulating the opening and closing; of said vent valve.

The combination with aradiator vent valve including a housing having an outlet opening: and a vent valve for controlling said opening, oi a fluid chamber mounted on said housing of said vent valve over said outlet opening to receive fluid therefrom, and a vaporizer casing having a screw threaded connection with said fluid chamher and containing a substance to be vaporized said casing permitting; flow o1": fluid from said chamber into contact with said substance to vaporize the same and constructed to regulate opening and closing of said valve by rotation of said casing on said Cllflll'llJQlf.

(i. The combination with a radiator vent valve including a housing having an outlet opening}; and a vent valve for controlling said opening and having one end projecting from said opening, of a fluid chamber mounted on said vent valve housing over said Outlet opening, and a vaporizer casing having a screw threaded connection with said fluid chamber and containing a substance to be *aporized, said vaporizer casing permitting flow o't fluid therethrough from said chamber into contact with said substance and bein; constructed to engage said projecting end of the vent valve and regulate opening and closing thereof by rotation of said casing on said fluid chamber.

ADOL'PH BAUER. 

